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Role of Scottish councils in delivering education set to change, says minister Role of Scottish councils in delivering education set to change, says minister
(about 1 hour later)
Scotland's Finance Secretary Derek Mackay has suggested that the role Scotland's 32 councils play in delivering education is set to change.Scotland's Finance Secretary Derek Mackay has suggested that the role Scotland's 32 councils play in delivering education is set to change.
Speaking to BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme, he said there was "nothing wrong" with local authorities running schools.Speaking to BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme, he said there was "nothing wrong" with local authorities running schools.
However, he insisted "we can do things differently" in how schools are funded.However, he insisted "we can do things differently" in how schools are funded.
Opposition parties have criticised the SNP government saying it has been slow to act on education. The Scottish Conservatives believed the government needed to set out the detail and give "real power" to schools.
Iain Gray, Labour's education spokesman, said: "The question we have to ask is why has it taken nine years for the SNP to wake up to the fact that this is the biggest investment we can make in our future, both the fairness of future society, but also our economic prosperity."
'We can do things differently''We can do things differently'
Mr Mackay, who was given his new finance role in First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's cabinet reshuffle, said it was the government's intention for head teachers to run devolved management budgets.Mr Mackay, who was given his new finance role in First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's cabinet reshuffle, said it was the government's intention for head teachers to run devolved management budgets.
He explained that there would be a different approach to funding and "how we address resources".He explained that there would be a different approach to funding and "how we address resources".
Mr Mackay said: "We've spoken about funding going direct to schools and that's different than has been the case before - realigning funding to ensure that those with the least in life receive the most support at school.Mr Mackay said: "We've spoken about funding going direct to schools and that's different than has been the case before - realigning funding to ensure that those with the least in life receive the most support at school.
"So there will be, yes, a different relationship in how education is delivered.""So there will be, yes, a different relationship in how education is delivered."
He added: "There's nothing wrong with local authorities running schools, but we can do things differently in how they're funded and how we address the attainment gap because we recognise that there's more to do and [to] engage more with the head teachers running the devolved management budgets."He added: "There's nothing wrong with local authorities running schools, but we can do things differently in how they're funded and how we address the attainment gap because we recognise that there's more to do and [to] engage more with the head teachers running the devolved management budgets."
Opposition parties said they would work with the government on education, but urged "genuine reform".
Conservative education spokeswoman, Liz Smith, said there was a "growing consensus" that one size did not fit all when it came to education.
She added: "However, the SNP needs to set out in detail what it is proposing. We want real power and control heading to schools - these reforms must not be used as a smokescreen for yet more SNP centralisation."
Labour's Iain Gray questioned the amount of time it had taken the SNP to turn its attention to education.
He explained: "Why has it taken nine years for the SNP to wake up to the fact that this is the biggest investment we can make in our future, both the fairness of future society, but also our economic prosperity."
Panel of education experts
Ms Sturgeon told Holyrood on Wednesday that education and the economy were her top priorities.Ms Sturgeon told Holyrood on Wednesday that education and the economy were her top priorities.
She said her ministers aimed for "real and lasting progress towards true equality of opportunity".She said her ministers aimed for "real and lasting progress towards true equality of opportunity".
Opposition parties said they would work with the government on education, but urged "genuine reform".
An international council of educational experts will be appointed to advise the government on improvements to schools.An international council of educational experts will be appointed to advise the government on improvements to schools.
It will be formed over the summer and will focus on closing the attainment gap in schools, achieving equality and educational system reform.It will be formed over the summer and will focus on closing the attainment gap in schools, achieving equality and educational system reform.
The first minister reshuffled her cabinet with her key priorities in mind, introducing separate finance and economy portfolios and moving her deputy John Swinney from finance to the education brief.The first minister reshuffled her cabinet with her key priorities in mind, introducing separate finance and economy portfolios and moving her deputy John Swinney from finance to the education brief.